February 2024 Surgery Buddies?

[LisaCaryl 96]

5 hours ago, RonHall908 said:

I've listened to some podcasts on bariatric surgery. The one in particular I've just listened to a couple times is called "Former fat friends" I listened to their finale of season 1. There's some things they talk about that may help. I'm an audible junkie, I listen to podcasts and books while I work. So, I'm not sure how many platforms they are on. I think everyone can take something from that podcast.

Thank you so much for mentioning this podcast. I had to go to town to have blood drawn this morning, and I started listening to them. I started with the finale, and oh my gosh, they made me cry. When one talks about the best part of the journey so far and describes the thoughts she had as an obese person. I just lost it. I'll be 69 years old next week, and when I think about the hours of my life lost in "obese thoughts," it really hurts. Things like "Am I the largest woman in the room?" "What will the poor person next to me on the airplane think?" "Will I be able to sit at all comfortably in that chair?" "Will I break that plastic chair?" "Do I have to find sturdier beach chairs?" "What are they thinking of me?" etc... the thoughts have been never-ending and all-consuming at times.

I'm going to go back and listen to more of their podcasts. Thanks again!

@NickelChip Yay on the weight coming off again! So exciting, I'm really happy for you. I can understand the not being interested in food. There are times I even dread it. I try to shop for things that I like and they sound good in the store, but when it comes time to eat, I'm usually apathetic about it. Good luck with your vacation. I found some Protein Bars I like, but they will melt sadly. In case you haven't tried them, they are https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4V2ML1C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[RonHall908 130]

5 minutes ago, LisaCaryl said:

Thank you so much for mentioning this podcast. I had to go to town to have blood drawn this morning, and I started listening to them. I started with the finale, and oh my gosh, they made me cry. When one talks about the best part of the journey so far and describes the thoughts she had as an obese person. I just lost it. I'll be 69 years old next week, and when I think about the hours of my life lost in "obese thoughts," it really hurts. Things like "Am I the largest woman in the room?" "What will the poor person next to me on the airplane think?" "Will I be able to sit at all comfortably in that chair?" "Will I break that plastic chair?" "Do I have to find sturdier beach chairs?" "What are they thinking of me?" etc... the thoughts have been never-ending and all-consuming at times.

I'm going to go back and listen to more of their podcasts. Thanks again!

@NickelChip Yay on the weight coming off again! So exciting, I'm really happy for you. I can understand the not being interested in food. There are times I even dread it. I try to shop for things that I like and they sound good in the store, but when it comes time to eat, I'm usually apathetic about it. Good luck with your vacation. I found some Protein Bars I like, but they will melt sadly. In case you haven't tried them, they are https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4V2ML1C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been trying to find all the podcast I can to get other perspectives post op. The other one I listen to is called "Active bariatric nutrition" podcast. The woman is a nutritionist. She has a lot of insight as well.

[Noelle74 53]

Last year I had given my daughter a bunch of jeans that were too small for me. I just got to take them back!! She brought me 10 pairs of jeans and 3 pairs I got to send back because they were too big!! The ones I got to keep were size 9’s. I didn’t want to go buy clothes yet because I’m still 9lbs from my goal weight and 19lbs from my surgeons goal weight. Very much in need of toning my stomach though. I keep hearing my surgeons words in my head over and over “skinny fat””skinny fat” if you don’t exercise you’ll look “skinny fat” ugh, this is my stomach right now. Never mind I’ve had 4 babies and that last one I had when I was 38 so my abdomen has not been bikini ready in a lifetime. So small win for me, I fit in a size 9 jeans, big loss…out of the jeans is not as pretty. Time to really get to toning and exercising and move onto the next steps in getting healthy. I haven’t stepped on the scale in a few days. Eating wise I have not been sick in over a week. All my Vitamin levels are where they should be. Things are finally falling into place.

[LisaCaryl 96]

I just got my blood work back online and am kind of upset about one number. Everything looks fine except for my A1C, which is 6.1. That falls in the pre-diabetes range of 5.7 - 6.4. Mine had mostly been between 5.6 and 6.1 before surgery, and nothing we were overly concerned about because of my weight. I'm quite discouraged to see it still up there after losing weight. I don't see the doctor until next week, so I will have to deal with it for now, but I wanted to put it out here and see if any of you have had this issue, too. My glucose is 75, but not sure how much that matters. Thanks!

[NickelChip 1,211]

@LisaCaryl I wouldn't worry about it too much yet. We're still pretty early out from surgery and according to the nurse practitioner in my office, a lot of the results at this point are in flux. My A1c went down a bit, but my cholesterol was all sorts of weird. Just keep doing what you're doing and give your body time to adjust. I doubt you're getting too much sugar or carbs at this point, but if you're doing a lot of sugar alcohols (sometimes in "low sugar" processed foods) you could maybe see about cutting those back. Otherwise, a lot of the studies for A1c and bariatric surgery are looking at results a year out or more from surgery, not a few months.

[LisaCaryl 96]

6 hours ago, Noelle74 said:

Last year I had given my daughter a bunch of jeans that were too small for me. I just got to take them back!! She brought me 10 pairs of jeans and 3 pairs I got to send back because they were too big!! The ones I got to keep were size 9’s. I didn’t want to go buy clothes yet because I’m still 9lbs from my goal weight and 19lbs from my surgeons goal weight. Very much in need of toning my stomach though. I keep hearing my surgeons words in my head over and over “skinny fat””skinny fat” if you don’t exercise you’ll look “skinny fat” ugh, this is my stomach right now. Never mind I’ve had 4 babies and that last one I had when I was 38 so my abdomen has not been bikini ready in a lifetime. So small win for me, I fit in a size 9 jeans, big loss…out of the jeans is not as pretty. Time to really get to toning and exercising and move onto the next steps in getting healthy. I haven’t stepped on the scale in a few days. Eating wise I have not been sick in over a week. All my Vitamin levels are where they should be. Things are finally falling into place.

Wow it sounds like you are doing great! How exciting about the jeans. I love this!

[Noelle74 53]

16 minutes ago, LisaCaryl said:

Wow it sounds like you are doing great! How exciting about the jeans. I love this!

Thank you!!

[LisaCaryl 96]

How is everyone?

I'm doing well here. My knee feels a lot better, although I'm not sure it's completely healed. I've finished my steroids. I'm praying it won't flare up again!

Today was my weigh day and I was down 3 1/2 pounds this week. That's with no exercise and minimal movement, so happy about that.

I hope you all are doing well!!!

[Noelle74 53]

9 minutes ago, LisaCaryl said:

How is everyone?

I'm doing well here. My knee feels a lot better, although I'm not sure it's completely healed. I've finished my steroids. I'm praying it won't flare up again!

Today was my weigh day and I was down 3 1/2 pounds this week. That's with no exercise and minimal movement, so happy about that.

I hope you all are doing well!!!

Congratulations on being down 3 1/2 lbs this week!! I’m so glad your knee is feeling better too!! I had knee pain once a few years back and I swear that is one of the worst pains there is. I was so glad mine went away eventually because I told myself many times I didn’t know how people dealt with such pain continuously. I do hope yours stays away.
I have not stepped on the scale. I do not want to be disappointed. I start work tonight after 10 years of not working. I’m disabled and do not know how long it will work out but the activity will count towards helping me lose the weight if I can make it any amount of time. Sadly I will probably have to up my steroid dose to do it but those should burn up and not add any extra weight. Wish me luck.

[NickelChip 1,211]

Doing okay here, too! Today is officially 4 months post-op and I'm feeling pretty good, although I've been very tired lately. I'm wondering if it's the heat, or if I need to get better about eating on a regular schedule. I'm prepping for vacation right now and I know the next week is going to be a little crazy when it comes to food and exercise being off track. I've stocked up on easy sources of Protein for the trip, including single serve packs of roasted edamame, beef Jerky, and nuts, plus Protein Bars. My doctor's office called today and said I could stop taking omeprazole since I have completed the 90-day prescription they gave me. Now I just have another 2 months left of the ursudiol. I can't wait for that one to be finished because it is so hard to swallow. It's too light and basically floats instead of wanting to go down.

I need to remember to take my 4-month progress photos. I think I will try to take them in the morning tomorrow as I'm feeling kind of bloated with the heat today.

[LisaCaryl 96]

9 hours ago, Noelle74 said:

Wish me luck.

Wishing you all the best. Sounds exciting!!!

[LisaCaryl 96]

4 hours ago, NickelChip said:

Doing okay here, too! Today is officially 4 months post-op and I'm feeling pretty good, although I've been very tired lately. I'm wondering if it's the heat, or if I need to get better about eating on a regular schedule. I'm prepping for vacation right now and I know the next week is going to be a little crazy when it comes to food and exercise being off track. I've stocked up on easy sources of Protein for the trip, including single serve packs of roasted edamame, beef Jerky, and nuts, plus Protein Bars. My doctor's office called today and said I could stop taking omeprazole since I have completed the 90-day prescription they gave me. Now I just have another 2 months left of the ursudiol. I can't wait for that one to be finished because it is so hard to swallow. It's too light and basically floats instead of wanting to go down.

I need to remember to take my 4-month progress photos. I think I will try to take them in the morning tomorrow as I'm feeling kind of bloated with the heat today.

I hope you have a wonderful vacation!!

My 4 months is tomorrow. I see the dietician and surgeon's office next week which I'm excited about. I weighed in this morning and I'm down 50 pounds. I'm very happy about that in 4 months!

Speaking of packing Protein things, have you tried the Quest chips? I love the BBQ!!

[gracesmommy2 35]

@LisaCaryl glad to hear your knees are better. Just wanted to mention also that I’d wait to worry on your A1C until they test it again later. It’s an average of your blood sugars over about 3 months if I remember correctly so it’s very very possible it just hasn’t been long enough for it to start coming down. 🤷🏼‍♀️ and LOVE the Quest chips! I like the ranch and the taco ones, just wish they weren’t ridiculously expensive. 😩 And I think we’re 4 mo today woohoo.
@NickelChip hope you have a great time on vacay!

@Noelle74 wishing you luck on the new job!

Hope ev1 else is doing well, I’m on one of my longer stalls and it’s driving me nuts! Doing what I should, tracking food and started a little Pilates bar exercise . I know it’s normal but like ev1 always says it’s just sooooo frustrating. plus my 6’1” skinny hubby is losing weight (that he absolutely does not need to lose), eating about twice what I eat (that I cook) and still eating out at restaurants with clients at least 1-2 x week. 🙄

Ain’t life a b@#&h! I know life’s NOT fair, but I just want to whine a little and say once…… Totally NOT fair! 😂

[BlueParis 117]

@Noelle74 Good luck with the job!

@gracesmommy2 I'm still stalled ( nearly 6 weeks now!) so you have all my sympathy

@NickelChip I hope you enjoy your holidays!

@LisaCaryl I hope your knee continues to behave

@RonHall908 Thanks for the podcast recommandations, enjoying them !

I'm going to give my week another stall and then do a one week liquid diet I think...

[BlueParis 117]

@Noelle74 How's work?

I'm about to leave Paris again for 3 weeks and head into a crazy tunnel of meetings and flights and travel and conferences till the end of July ... I've finally dropped to under 69kg but now know that my weightloss is probably going to slow to 5-7ish pounds (2/3kg a month) so I have a long slog in front of me and If I reach my goal it won't be until December I reckon. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm trying to look at the progress I've made so far and concentrate on the fact that although my BMI is at the top of healthy it is healthy. Looking back at pictures is helping. My collar bones and hip bones are starting to make a reappearance at last and that I'm happy about.

I've decided I also probably need to seriously act on my drinking too and will count my units this next month and consider seeing a shrink if I'm averaging over 14 units a week.

By the way how are everyones scars ... mine are still so dark - see last picture!

One Week Post op

Two weeks post op

One month ish post op

Last week (so 4 months post op)

This evening (not the best outfit but I'm in Pjs already - folded top in and up to show scars)